Erch, as those who know him affectionately call him, kind of looks a little like a certain jolly elf, if you squint hard and replace the reindeer with a John Deere. (And the sack of toys with…I don’t even want to think about it.)

So appropriately enough, he’s spent his holiday season making gifts: bird feeders that he’s selling so that he use the money to help defray the costs of cancer treatments for two of his former students.

Since it’s now a week until Christmas, and there’s only so many cardinal condos and blue jay boudoirs Erch can build, he’s suggested that might be just enough time to send some peace on earth and goodwill toward man through the mail.

So if you have the chance, and maybe a leftover stamp, you may want to consider dropping Barry Walker (who lettered for the Buckeye football team from 1983-86) and Matt Steele a line.